Flexible mail delivery system and method

ABSTRACT

The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/239,926, entitled “FLEXIBLE PARCEL DELIVERY SYSTEMAND METHOD,” filed on Oct. 13, 2000, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dynamically changing the delivery pointof an item while the item is en route to a destination. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to methods and systems fordynamically redirecting an item, such as a parcel, to a new deliverypoint, flexibly specified, before the parcel is delivered to theoriginally addressed delivery point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's conventional delivery systems, the sender of an item, forexample, a parcel, places the recipient's name and address on the itemto specify the delivery point, and gives it to a delivery service todeliver. While the item is en route to the delivery point, conventionaldelivery systems often allow the sender of an item to track the item'sprogress from the sending point to the delivery point. Such systemstypically use a unique identification tag, such as a bar code label, toidentify the item and track it. As the item passes through variouslocations along the route to the delivery point, the tag is scanned andinformation regarding the item's current location is updated. Using thetag's identification number, the sender can access the current locationinformation and follow the progress of the item.

Some conventional systems also allow a recipient to track an item enroute to the recipient's delivery point, if the recipient knows theidentification tag number associated with the item. For example, if aperson purchases an item online or via the telephone, the seller mayprovide a “tracking number” for the item, with which the buyer can learnthe item's current location en route. The buyer may use the deliveryservice's web site, or call a telephone number to learn the currentlocation of the item.

Several problems exist, however, with today's conventional deliverysystems. First, conventional delivery systems are typically inflexibleregarding timing of deliveries—the delivery service simply brings theitem to the delivery point when it is convenient for the deliverer. Thisis inconvenient for the recipient and causes missed deliveries if therecipient is unable to wait at the delivery point according to thedeliverer's schedule. If the recipient cannot arrange to wait fordelivery, they must either pick the item up from the delivery service orarrange a new delivery time.

Second, conventional systems deliver to a single static delivery pointthat is specified at the time of shipping when the sender places therecipient's name and address on the item being shipped. This isinconvenient and inefficient if the recipient cannot be at the deliverypoint when the delivery service arrives with the item. When thishappens, delivery is delayed as the delivery service must keep the itemand attempt to contact the recipient to arrange redelivery at adifferent time. Naturally, a recipient would prefer delivery to alocation where he can accept it.

There are other reasons a recipient may wish to have an item deliveredto a delivery point other than the one specified by the sender Forexample, if a recipient learns that a parcel is going to be delivered tohis house tomorrow, but he cannot receive the parcel because he mustmake a last minute out-of-town business trip, he may wish to have theparcel delivered to his out-of-town hotel. A recipient may also wish toredirect delivery of a perishable item if the specified delivery pointis not conducive to preserving it; or redirect the delivery of an itemhaving special physical characteristics, such as high weight or largesize, that cannot be accommodated at the specified delivery point. Or,the recipient may just wish to redirect delivery of an item forconvenience sake.

Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods of item delivery thatallow a recipient to flexibly customize the delivery point and deliverytime while the item is en route. There is a need to provide recipientswith the ability to redirect an item to a new delivery point and tospecify the time of delivery at the delivery point, based on informationabout the item. Further, there is a need for item delivery systems andmethods that enable a sender to flexibly specify the return deliverypoint for an item that is returned (e.g., when the sender becomes thenew recipient because the item was undeliverable to the addressee).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance an embodiment consistent with the principles of thepresent invention, a method for changing the delivery point of a mailitem while the item is en route comprises determining a first deliverypoint of the item; notifying, based on the first delivery point, arecipient that the item is en route; accepting a second delivery pointor confirming the initial delivery point; and delivering the item to thesecond delivery point.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Thefeatures of the invention will be realized and attained by means of theelements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for flexible deliveryof a mail item consistent with the principles of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary process for flexible delivery ofa mail item consistent with the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the presentinvention provide the ability to specify the delivery point and time forthe mail item being delivered, while the item is en route. In addition,the principles of the present invention allow the recipient, sender, ormailer to flexibly to act alone or in combination with each other whenchanging the delivery point and/or time of the mail item. While a mailitem, such as a parcel, is en route between the sending point and thedelivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the parcel is intransit. In response, the delivery of the mail item may be changed. Forexample, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the deliveryaddress written on the parcel) may be changed or a delivery time may bespecified. The mail item is then delivered to the new delivery pointand/or at the specified delivery time.

Reference will now be made in detail to specific exemplary embodimentsof the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will beused throughout the description to refer to the same or like parts. Theinvention is described using embodiments involving United States PostalService (USPS) equipment and systems. One of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize, however, that the principles of the present inventionapply to a wide variety of delivery systems and methods and are notlimited to the specific embodiments described.

System Overview

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for flexible deliveryof a mail item consistent with the principles of the present invention.As shown, a mail item 100 is moved from right to left by a mailtransport device 110. Mail item 100 may be any type of item known tothose skilled in the art, such as a parcel, a letter, or a package. Asit moves, mail item 100 passes through an illuminated area under acamera 120. Camera 120 records an image of mail item 100, including itsmailing label, upon which is written a recipient's address and a returnaddress for the sender.

In one embodiment consistent with the principles of the presentinvention, camera 120 sends the image to a pattern recognition device125, which performs an optical character reading (OCR) function orhandwriting recognition (HWR) function. The OCR/HWR function uses thecharacters of the destination address to determine a delivery point formail item 100, such as a name and a Zip-plus-four-plus-two code. TheOCR/HWR function also determines who the sender is by reading the returnaddress. If mail item 100 does not already include an automaticidentification tag, then an auto ID application device 115 places anautomatic identification tag on mail item 100. The automaticidentification tag may be, for example, a bar code, data matrix code, orradio-frequency identification device.

At about the same time, pattern recognition device 125 creates adatabase entry, indexed by the identification tag number, that includesa recipient information section 130 and a sender information section135. Recipient information section 130 contains information such as thedelivery point, the recipient's name, and notification channels forcommunicating with the recipient, such as the recipient's phone numberand email address. Mailer information section 135 contains informationsuch as the return address, the sender's name, notification channels forcommunicating with the sender, such as the sender's phone number andemail address, and a scheduled delivery date for mail item 100. Thedatabase entry may also include other information about mail item 100,such as its size, its weight, and an image of mail item 100 taken bycamera 120. The database entries may be stored in a database 137maintained by a computer system 138. Various implementations fordatabase 137 and computer system 138 are known to those skilled in theart, and thus need not be described in detail here.

In another embodiment consistent with the principles of the presentinvention, the OCR and identification tag application functions are notnecessary because the sender has already placed an identification tag onmail item 100. In this embodiment, camera 120 takes an image of theidentification tag on mail item 100 and pattern recognition device 125performs a bar code reader (BCR) function to discern the identificationnumber. Pattern recognition device 125 uses the identification number toindex to a database entry containing information concerning mail item100, such as the delivery point, recipient, return address, and otherinformation as just described. Obtaining this information using adatabase lookup function is much quicker and more accurate than usingOCR for determining address and other information.

In another embodiment consistent with the principles of the presentinvention, a unique identification tag is not required for mail item100. Instead, the delivery point address represented, for example, as aZip-plus-four-plus-two Code, and the return address, represented as aZip-plus-four-plus-two Code, are used as database indices for mail item100. The mailing date and time may also be used to help uniquelyidentify mail item 100's entry in the database.

Populating the Database

Once mail item 100 has a unique identification tag, or is otherwiseidentified, the identity of mail item 100 is used to access a databaseentry containing information about mail item 100, as described above.The database information may come from various sources. In oneembodiment, information is gathered by the delivery service from mailitem 100 itself. For example, sender name, return address, recipientname, and delivery address are gathered by camera 120 and patternrecognition device 125's OCR function. Mail item 100's weight and sizemay be gathered by automatically weighing and measuring it. In short,any characteristic discernable from an external inspection of mail item100 can be gathered by the delivery service and put into the database.

If the sender gives mail item 100 a unique identity, (for example byaffixing an identification tag), the sender may use a mailer plant 140to create mail and supply a database containing all the information thancan be gathered from an external inspection, plus additional informationabout mail item 100. For example, the sender can supply additionalinformation about the contents of mail item 100 from mailer plant 140,its value, notification information for the sender (e.g., therecipient's email address and phone number), and notificationinformation for the recipient (e.g. the sender's email address and phonenumber as supplied when the recipient ordered mail item 100). The sendercan easily transfer this database to the delivery service when a batchof items, such as mail item 100, are shipped.

In another embodiment consistent with the principles of the presentinvention, the delivery service builds and maintains a secure, staticdatabase of information associated with each delivery point to which itdelivers to. The static database is indexed by delivery point, such asZip-plus-four-plus-two Code and contains, for example, the names of thedifferent persons residing at that delivery point, and notificationcontact information for each, such as email address and phone number.The static database may also contain other information such aspreapproved alternate delivery points, hold mail status, instructionsfor delivery times, common misspellings of recipients' names, etc. Inshort, the static database contains anything of a ‘permanent’ natureabout the recipient, as contrasted to the ‘temporary’ information aboutmail item 100, which is no longer useful after mail item 100 isdelivered. While static in nature this database may be regularly updatedunder secure conditions.

Using a static, predefined database to store notification contactinformation adds a fraud protection factor to the invention. Since thenotification information prelinks a physical mailbox to a notificationchannel, such as an electronic mailbox or electronic address, theintended recipient is notified of any fraudulent redirection of mailitem 100 to a new address. Moreover, if the ‘recipient’ instructions donot come from a predefined notification path for the recipient, asstored in the static database, they can be ignored as presumablyfraudulent. Furthermore, in one embodiment, a recipient may only changedelivery points to an address that is pre-recorded in the staticdatabase.

Process Overview

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary process for flexible delivery ofa mail item consistent with the principles of the present invention. Instage 205 of the embodiment shown, the process starts by capturing animage of the mail item being delivered, e.g., mail item 100. Forexample, the image may include delivery address and return addressinformation. In addition, or as an alternative, the process may alsocapture data that contains the same type of information (e.g., thedestination address and return address), which is supplied by the sender(e.g., a mailer).

In one embodiment, the image is captured by a conventional opticalcharacter reading apparatus (OCR), which takes an image of mail item 100and “reads” the letters of the recipient's address and the sender'sreturn address, converting them into electronic data usable by a dataprocessing system. Various types of optical character reading apparatusare known to those skilled in the art, and thus need not be described indetail here. In another embodiment, the recipient's address and thesender's address information is supplied by the sender as electronicdata, obviating the need to use an optical character reader to get theinformation off mail item 100.

Sender supplied data may also include other information about mail item100, such as the parcel's size and weight of the mail item, the contentsof the mail item, its expiration date, undeliverability instructions,etc. Alternatively, some or all of the same data may also be capturedindependently of the sender in a manner similar to an OCR capturing theaddress information, for example, by weighing and measuring mail item100 to determine its weight and size.

Next, the process determines the delivery point from the image of mailitem 100 and/or from the mailer supplied data (stage 210). In oneembodiment, as is well known in the art, an OCR reads the characters ofthe delivery address on mail item 100 to determine the delivery point.The “delivery point” may include the recipient's name as well therecipient's address. The delivery point may then be transformed into abar code, such as a POSTNET bar code containing theZip-plus-four-plus-two recipient delivery point code, which is appliedto the front of mail item 100 and used for further sorting. In anotherembodiment, has a unique, easy-to-determine identifier attached to it,(for example, an identifier bar code) and the delivery point isdetermined by looking it up in a database indexed by the identifier. Theidentifier and the corresponding database of information associated withthe identifier may be supplied by the sender, because a database lookupto determine the delivery point is typically faster, easier todetermine, and less error-prone than an OCR process.

In one embodiment, an OCR process is used just once to determine thedelivery point, which is stored in a database with a unique identifier.Then, the same unique identifier is applied to mail item 100 in afashion that makes the identifier easy to determine in subsequenttracking, removing the need for another pass through an OCR process. Forexample, a barcode may be applied directly to the mail item.

In stage 215 of the process, a notification is sent, e.g., to therecipient, to indicate that mail item 100 is en route to the deliverypoint. The notification may be sent by various ways, for example, viaemail, via telephone, via fax, or via pager. The notification may besent to a wide variety of individuals or organizations. For example, thenotification may be sent to the recipient and/or an individualauthorized by the recipient. In addition, the notification may be sentto the sender or the mailer.

In one embodiment, the notification is sent to the recipient and theinformation necessary to contact the recipient (e.g., the recipient'semail address or telephone number) is retrieved from a database, indexedby the delivery item's identifier. Notification contact information maybe included in the sender supplied data referred to in the previousstage. Notification contact information may also be obtained fromindependent third-party sources. For example, a recipient's telephonenumber may be looked up in a phone book or on-line telephone directorywebsite.

In another embodiment, the recipient's contact information is affixed tothe mail item, for example, as a bar code or data matrix code containingthe recipient's email address.

In yet another embodiment, notification is via a conventional physicallydelivered letter that arrives while mail item 100 is in transit, sentfrom a post office local to the recipient. The letter is sent to theaddress to which mail item 100 is being delivered by a post office closeto the recipient address. For example, when a mail item, such as mailitem 100, is mailed from a sender in Boston, Mass., to a recipient inSan Francisco, Calif., the San Francisco Post Office prints a letter tothe recipient. The letter, informing the recipient that mail item 100was mailed in Boston, is delivered to the recipient while mail item 100is en route. The letter originating in Boston may then be actuallyprinted and delivered in San Francisco in time to be delivered on thenext day. Thus, the recipient is notified in sufficient time to provideinstructions regarding mail item 100.

In one embodiment of a system consistent with the principles of thepresent invention, the recipient is notified that mail item 100 is enroute soon after the delivery service takes initial possession of themail item. Early notification reduces unnecessary transportation of themail item. For example, if the recipient of the parcel being deliveredfrom Boston to San Francisco wishes to have the parcel delivered to ahotel room in Chicago instead, early notification allows the recipientto redirect the parcel before it passes Chicago on its way to the Westcoast, saving time and transportation costs. In one variation of thisembodiment, mail item 100 is not transported from the origin locationuntil instructions are received from the recipient.

In another embodiment, the recipient is notified after mail item 100 hastraveled some distance toward the addressed delivery point. Laternotification allows the delivery service to more accurately inform therecipient when mail item 100 will arrive at the delivery point, becausemail item 100 will be closer to the delivery point. With more accurateinformation, the recipient can better manage delivery of the mail item.

In yet another embodiment, the recipient is notified more than once asmail item 100 progresses along the delivery route. For example, therecipient is given an early notification that mail item 100 has beensent to him, without specifying a delivery date or specifying anestimated range of delivery dates. Later, after mail item 100 has beenmoved, the recipient is given another notification, specifying much moreaccurately the expected delivery date. In yet another embodiment, therecipient is notified after an actual delivery attempt fails—e.g., in asituation where a “yellow slip” would normally be left at the recipientaddress after the delivery attempt.

Although the above embodiments are described with the recipientreceiving the notification, other individuals or organizations mayreceive the notification consistent with the principles of the presentinvention. For example, the sender may receive the notificationsimultaneously with the recipient. Alternatively, the sender may receivethe notification rather than the recipient. Other variations ofproviding the notification to one or more individuals or organizationsinterested in delivery of the mail item are consistent with theprinciples of the present invention.

Next, systems and methods consistent with the principles of the presentinvention accept, e.g., from the recipient, instructions regardingdelivery of mail item 100 (stage 220). The recipient may, for example,communicate instructions over the same channel used to notify therecipient in the previous stage (e.g., email, telephone, website, etc.).In one embodiment, the recipient's instruction include a new deliverypoint (e.g., “deliver to my office instead of my home”), a new deliverytime (e.g., “deliver today at 7:00 p.m.”), and other information, suchas special delivery instructions (e.g. “place inside garage,” or “holditem for one week, I will pick up at Post Office on that date”). In oneembodiment, if the recipient makes no response to the notification, isdelivered to the addressed delivery point according to procedures wellknown to those skilled in the art.

Instructions may be accepted from individuals or organizations otherthan the recipient. For example, systems and methods consistent with theprinciples of the present invention may accept instructions from thesender or the mailer. One skilled in the art would recognize that a widevariety of instructions sources may be used consistent with theprinciples of the present invention.

In stage 225, a notification is sent, e.g., to the sender (or mailer),to indicate acceptance of the instructions. As in stage 215, thenotification may be sent to a variety of individuals or organizations,such as, the sender, the mailer, or the recipient. For example, a copyof the recipient's email delivery instructions can be forwarded to thesender. In one embodiment, the sender has final control over deliveryand has the option to veto any alternate delivery instructions given bythe recipient. To prevent fraud or for other reasons, the sender candirect that mail item 100 be delivered to the original address.

As in stage 215, the instruction acceptance notification may be sent bya variety of methods well known in the art, such as email, telephone,fax, letter, or electronic data exchange between data processingsystems. Contact information for communicating, e.g., with the sender,may be retrieved from a variety of sources well known in the art. Forexample, it may be looked up in a database provided by the mailer,gotten from information written on the parcel (e.g., return address), orgotten from information encoded on the mail item using a bar code ordata matrix code.

In stage 230 of the process, the new delivery instructions, e.g., fromthe recipient, are approved and the process proceeds to stage 235, orthe instructions are vetoed and the process proceeds to stage 240. Theinstructions may be approved by a variety of individuals andorganizations. For example, as noted above, the sender may retain finalcontrol over delivery of mail item 100. One skilled in the art wouldalso recognize that approval of the instructions may be performed in awide variety of ways. For example, in one embodiment, the sendercompares the new delivery address to a list of previously specifiedacceptable delivery addresses for the recipient, and agrees if the newaddress is on the list. Agreeing only to pre-defined alternate addresseshelps reduce fraudulent redirection of mail.

If the instructions are approved, mail item 100 is delivered accordingto the instructions (stage 235). In one embodiment consistent with theprinciples of the present invention, if the recipient has specified anew delivery point, a distinctive new label specifying the new addressmay be produced and affixed to mail item 100 in place of the originaldelivery address label, so that a delivery person reading the label willdeliver mail item 100 correctly. The distinctive new label may be usedto alert the mail carrier that the piece is automatically beingredirected and adds a degree of fraud prevention. Similarly, thedelivery address of mail item 100 contained in database 125 may bechanged to reflect the new delivery point. In one embodiment, the labeland database changes may be performed automatically, for example, by asystem used by the U.S. Postal Service.

In stage 230, if the instructions are not approved, then mail item 100is delivered according to the original address on mail item 100 (stage235). One skilled in the art would also recognize that mail item 100 maybe sent to destinations other than the original address, e.g., in theevent of an undeliverable address. For example, in one embodimentconsistent with the principles of the present invention, the mailer mayspecify a new delivery point for mail item 100 in this stage.

Next, the delivery service attempts to deliver mail item 100 to thefinal delivery point, which will generally be either a new deliverypoint as instructed or the original addressed delivery point. If mailitem 100 is successfully delivered, then the process proceeds to stage250. If mail item 100 is undeliverable, then the process proceeds tostage 260.

Mail item 100 may be undeliverable for any number of reasons well knownto those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the address may beinvalid, the recipient may have moved, or nobody may have been home toaccept the parcel during several redelivery and notification attempts.

If mail item 100 is successfully delivered, then in stage 250 anotification is sent to indicate that actual delivery has occurred. Aswith stages 215 and 225, the delivery notification may be sent to avariety of individuals or organizations, e.g., the sender, and may bedone in a number of different ways, all consistent with the principlesof the present invention. For example, as is known in the art, thedelivery person may scan the identification barcode on mail item 100when he places mail item 100 in the recipient's home mailbox. Aninternal clock in the scanner records the delivery time. When thescanner is then placed in a cradle in the delivery truck or at the localoffice, the delivery information is uploaded to a computer and placed ina database accessible to those trying to find delivery information forthat item. Accordingly, the sender could confirm delivery using a“tracking number” and a website to access the database and learn thedelivery information. The sender could then make that informationavailable on the sender's website, so that a recipient customer of thesender could access it without knowing what shipping service was used,the “tracking number,” or any other details. As is known to thoseskilled in the art, the notification confirming delivery, using any of anumber of methods, some of which were previously described.

In one embodiment consistent with the principles of the presentinvention, the sender is notified of actual delivery using an image ofthe physical item as delivered. The image can show the newrecipient-instructed delivery point on the address label and thephysical condition (e.g., any damage) of mail item 100. The image may beprovided electronically, for example, in JPEG format. It may be emailedto the sender, or put on a website with the URL emailed to the sender.Although images may require a very large amount of bandwidth and storagespace, especially considering that millions of letters and parcels aredelivered by, the U.S. Postal Service every day, and that a parcel witha surface area of 10×20 inches would require about two megabytes tostore as an image. However, techniques known to those of ordinary skillin the art, such as data compression, reduces the required resources,especially since not all senders will want, or pay for, imagenotification. After the sender is notified of actual delivery, theprocess ends.

If mail item 100 is not deliverable in stage 245, then in stage 260 anotification is sent, e.g., to the sender, to indicate that mail item100 was undeliverable and disposition instructions are requested. Aswith stages 215, 225, and 250, notifying and requesting can be done inseveral different ways, all consistent with the principles of thepresent invention. In addition, the undeliverable notification may besent to a wide variety of individuals or organizations consistent withthe principles of the present invention.

For example, as noted, the undeliverable notification may be sent to thesender. The sender can then provide a number of different dispositioninstructions to the shipping service in possession of the undeliverableitem. For example, the sender may instruct the shipper to return mailitem 100 to a return address printed on mail item 100, a return addressassociated with mail item 100 in a database, or a newly supplied returnaddress. Alternatively, the sender may instruct the shipper to destroymail item 100, auction it off, or donate it to a charity. A shipper mayprefer these options to returning mail item 100 because in some caseswhen mail item 100 is undeliverable, it is cheaper not to return it. Forexample, consider an undeliverable $2.00 bottle opener. It may cost thesender $5.00 in handling and labor charges to accept the return, processit, and put the opener back in the inventory. In such a case, the sendermay not want mail item 100 back. Instead they may simple want itdestroyed, or auctioned off to recoup a share of the proceeds, ordonated to charity to receive a tax benefit.

After disposition of mail item 100 is completed, a notification may besent, e.g., to the sender, to indicate disposition of mail item 100(stage 265). As with stages 215, 225, 260 and 265, notification may besent to a wide variety of individuals or organizations and may be donein several different ways, all consistent with the principles of thepresent invention. At the completion of this stage, the process ends.

One skilled in the art will recognize that various stages of the processdescribed can be modified, removed, and/or reordered without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, stages225, 230, and 240 may be removed and the resulting process will stillcomport with the principles of the present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. For example, one skilled in the art wouldrealize that the principles of the present invention encompass deliveryservices that implement the described invention completely manually,using an integrated manual/automatic process or a completely automaticprocess including a manual/automatic inspection, computerized databasesor, paper databases, and manual phone calls. It is intended that thespecification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a truescope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the followingclaims.

1. A method for changing the delivery point of an item while the item isen route, comprising: determining a first delivery point of the item;notifying a recipient, based on the first delivery point, that the itemis en route; notifying a sender, based on an identifier of the senderobtained from the item, that the item is en route; accepting at leastone instruction designating a second delivery point; and delivering theitem to the second delivery point.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinaccepting the at least one instruction comprises accepting at least oneinstruction from the recipient.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinaccepting at least one instruction designating a second delivery pointcomprises: allowing the sender to specify whether to deliver to thesecond delivery point.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering theitem to the second delivery point comprises: notifying the sender, ifactual delivery is made; and requesting disposition instructions fromthe sender, if delivery was not made.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A method forhandling an undeliverable item, comprising: notifying a sender of theitem that the item is undeliverable; accepting a disposition instructionfrom the sender, after the notifying; changing a delivery point of theitem while the item is en route after accepting the dispositioninstruction; and handling the item according to the dispositioninstruction.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dispositioninstruction is an instruction to return the item to the sender.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the disposition instruction is an instructionto auction the item.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the dispositioninstruction is an instruction to donate the item.
 10. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the disposition instruction is an instruction todispose of the item.
 11. A system for changing the delivery point of anitem while the item is en route, comprising: means for determining afirst delivery point of the item; means for notifying a recipient, basedon the first delivery point, that the item is en route; means fornotifying a sender, based on an identifier of the sender obtained fromthe item, that the item is en route; means for accepting a seconddelivery point from the recipient; and means for delivering the item tothe second delivery point.
 12. (canceled)
 13. A system for handling anundeliverable item, comprising: means for notifying a sender of the itemthat the item is undeliverable; means for accepting a dispositioninstruction from the sender after the notifying; means for changing adelivery point of the item while the item is en route after acceptingthe disposition instruction; and means for handling the item accordingto the disposition instruction.
 14. A method to flexibly deliver anitem, comprising: determining a first delivery point of the item;providing a notification to indicate that the item is en route to thefirst delivery point; conditionally accepting a second delivery point ofthe item, comprising requesting, from the sender, an approval of thesecond delivery point; and delivering the item to one of the firstdelivery point and second delivery point based on the conditionalacceptance of the second delivery point.
 15. The method of claim 14,further comprising: providing information to indicate that the item wasdelivered to one of the first delivery point and second delivery point.16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing information toindicate that the item was not delivered, when the first delivery pointand second delivery point are undeliverable.
 17. The method of claim 16,further comprising: accepting at least one additional delivery point forthe item; and delivering the item to the at least one additionaldelivery point.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:providing at least one additional notification based on delivery of theitem to the at least one additional delivery point.
 19. The method ofclaim 14, wherein determining a first delivery point of the itemcomprises capturing an image of the item.
 20. The method of claim 14,wherein conditionally accepting the second delivery point of the item,comprises: requesting, from the sender, an approval of the seconddelivery point.
 21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:determining at least one characteristic of the item.
 22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein providing the notification to indicate that the itemis en route to the first delivery point includes information indicatingthe at least one characteristic of the item.
 23. The method of claim 21,wherein determining the at least one characteristic of the itemcomprises determining a weight of the item.
 24. The method of claim 21,wherein determining the at least one characteristic of the itemcomprises determining a size of the item.
 25. The method of claim 21,wherein determining the at least one characteristic of the itemcomprises capturing an image of the item.
 26. The method of claim 14,wherein providing the notification to indicate that the item is en routeto the first delivery point comprises providing information to indicatea time the item will arrive at the first delivery point.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein conditionally accepting the second delivery pointof the item comprises accepting a specified time for the item to arrive.28. The method of claim 14, wherein conditionally accepting a seconddelivery point of the item is based on verifying an identity of arecipient for the item.
 29. The method of claim 14 wherein conditionallyaccepting a second delivery point of the item is based on receiving anapproval from a sender of the item.
 30. A system for flexible deliveryof an item, comprising: means for determining a first delivery point ofthe item; means for providing a notification to indicate that the itemis en route to the first delivery point; means for conditionallyaccepting a second delivery point of the item, comprising requesting,from the sender, an approval of the second delivery point; and means fordelivering the item to one of the first delivery point and seconddelivery point based on the conditional acceptance of the seconddelivery point.